SIUE's Strohmeyer scholarship revitalized

For the Intelligencer

Published
7:00 am CDT, Wednesday, June 17, 2015

As he applied to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing, a plaque hanging in the hallway caught the eye of Joseph Strohmeyer. Upon further inspection, the freshman student realized the plaque announced a scholarship that had been named in honor of his grandmother, Shirley Strohmeyer, back in 1996.

During her tenure as an advisor in the School of Nursing, Shirley Strohmeyer was endearingly referred to as “mother hen.”

Her family always knew she was a committed staff member who was devoted to helping students. However, they had never heard of the School’s almost 20-year-old scholarship paying tribute to their mother and grandmother: the Shirley Strohmeyer Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

“It made us incredibly happy to hear of its existence, especially since my mom worked so hard for the nursing school,” Shirley’s daughter, Nancy Strohmeyer said. “Mom passed away in 1994, about a year after she retired from SIUE.”

Laura Bernaix, interim dean of the School, remembers Shirley fondly.

“Shirley was the heart of the school,” Bernaix recalled. “Students considered her a friend and advocate. When I was a student in my doctoral program, Shirley stayed late after work many nights to help me type my class papers.”

“When I would come home from college, I’d drive mom to the store and restaurants in Edwardsville,” Nancy said. “Inevitably, we would run into a current or past nursing student who would always tell me how lucky I was to have her as my mother.”

Funding for the award has been low in recent years. But now, Nancy says her family plans to help her mother’s legacy live on by contributing to the scholarship.

“It makes me and my family happy to contribute, and ensure mom’s scholarship continues,” Nancy said. “Both of my parents were dedicated to working with college students. My sister and brothers and I were raised to appreciate what a good education can provide.”

The annual scholarship recognizes a student who best demonstrates the mission of the School and the core values of SIUE. At the 2015 School of Nursing Scholarship Luncheon Shirley’s son Whitney, and his wife Ketra, presented the award to student Kaylee Boland.

“Whitney told us how moved he was by the people who came and talked to him and shared memories about mom,” Nancy said. “The student recipient was so appreciative. It was a lovely event.”

The newfound tribute has left the family reminiscing about the impact their mother made on most everyone she met.

“She would be extremely pleased to know that she was being remembered like this,” Nancy added. “She was always there for students, and they knew that.”

As he continues his academic career at SIUE, Joseph will see his grandmother’s plaque often as he was just accepted into the School of Nursing. There’s no doubt, Shirley would be proud.